9. White Fire

Sephiroth stood by the window, immersed in his memories of five years ago. He saw again the snow covered crater, the Shin-Ra helicopter descending to the darkness below with its cargo and emerging again, free of burden, signaling that everything is ready for the next phase. He had stood at the edge of the cliffs in the icy, howling wind. A step away Aerith had knelt with a whitish globe of materia clutched in her hands, and between them Zack- his hand ready on the handle of his sword, ready for any possibility. It had been the strangest experience – Aerith kneeling in complete silence, still, they thought they heard her voice softly singing; the only sight as far as enhanced eyes could see was the snow swirling, but they felt as though smoldering white flames were emerging from the crater, dancing through the sky, burning the calamity to ashes. He remembered standing straight, immobile, only the slight tremors of his clutched fist displaying the inner turmoil he felt as the foreign will embedded in his cells urged him, screaming to stop the destruction, to save her. He never told anyone how hard a struggle it was to be himself then; although Zack might well have known since he agreed to remain there, stationed between him and Aerith, to protect her. Aerith surely knew as well, since she needed no words to understand him. And with that they finally saw the end of the nightmare.

"General, sir, the President says he awaits you in his office," the voice of his secretary returned him from his memories. He turned his back to the window and the sight of the hanging gardens of Midgar to look at his subordinate. Trevort, his secretary, had the breathtaking ability to keep track of who was doing what at every moment in the gigantic forest that was Shin-Ra HQ.

"Right." He answered. "Forward the report on the latest trading agreement with Wutai to Director Shinra; I added notes on the problematic parts of the transmission of weapons. Also remind Commander Fair that I want his report on my desk, today," Sephiroth noticed the resigned little sigh his secretary breathed. He smiled; making Zack do his paperwork was a task deserving a bonus. "And tell him I said to check if he can still hold his sword," he added.

Even Trevort's all-professional expression lightened up a bit hearing the General of the Shin-Ra army and the Commander of the Midgar City Patrols teasing each other.

Sephiroth suddenly stopped at the door, turning back to look at the secretary.

"Do you know where Aerith is?" He asked.

"In the Urban Development Department, planning the gardens of Sector 6 with Director Tuesti," came the answer without even a moment of hesitation. Sephiroth stared at him for a split second, baffled, then nodded and left. Sometimes the suspicion arose in him that not only supersoldiers but omnipotent secretaries were developed in the awful labs of the old Shin-Ra and that Trevort was the successful result.

He found President Lazard Deusericus hunched over some blueprints.

"Did you see Cid's latest designs? Look," he showed the paper to Sephiroth. "Of course it won't get into space either but it will be a splendid medium range airliner. Good for the growing traffic with Wutai. Rufus is really enthusiastic about it; he's planning on expanding the transportation area. I count on it; he has a good eye for business, he's doing a better job at the Commerce and Industry Department than anybody would have thought. But I didn't call you for that. Did you get Strife's resignation letter? Do you know why he wants to leave us? Is there a problem with the Nibel Area Patrols?"

"No, to my knowledge everything is fine there," Sephiroth answered as he sat comfortably in front of Lazard's desk. "I asked Aerith whether she knew his reasons; she said Cloud is planning to open a motorbike mechanic workshop to have a more predictable schedule now that Tifa's expecting a child."

He leaned back with a carefully neutral expression and waited for the reaction. He wasn't disappointed. Lazard's jaw hung slightly open as he stared in utter bewilderment. Sephiroth actually found it really amusing even though at first he was surprised of the news, too. Maybe not this surprised, he thought, as he waited for his superior to recompose himself. Lazard shook his head, muttered something about the youngest of them taking the plunge first.

"I suppose we should let him go, then. I'll look into who can we replace him with. On another note, I'd like you to submit your yearly training proposal before you go and also prompting Zack to announce how many new recruits he needs in the Patrols would be appreciated."

"He's your subordinate, not mine," Sephiroth eluded without a blink. The answer though was clear on Lazard's face: when I can threaten him with a sword too, then I will chase him around myself. He allowed his lips to turn up to a small smirk.

"I'll see if I can affect him."

"If you can't then it must be the end of the world," Lazard shook his head with resignation. "I hope you realize I won't get a single document from him while you're away. You had to take a vacation in recruitment period, as if I don't have enough work already."

Sephiroth looked definitely unapologetic; he hadn't once taken a leave since the reformation of Shin-Ra, which was close to five years now. They would manage without him for a month for sure, no matter how the President liked to complain over his workload. As for Zack's paperwork, it was mostly done by the secretary anyway. They caught each other's eyes above the desk, the mutual fondness undeniable between them. Lazard let out a small laugh.

"You two deserve that break. Have a nice time, then I'll see you when you return to the treadmill!"

Sephiroth stopped on his way to the Urban Development Department and looked out a window. The scenery unfolding before his eyes didn't resemble the one five years ago. There was no more permanent smog over the city nor the eerie green glow of mako reactors. They already finished the clearing of the ruins and the cultivation of the desert proceeded according to schedule. The previously barren basin now was laced by gardens and low-roofed houses.

Aerith with Tuesti's team worked very hard to heal the scars of Midgar. Their office was in its usual state of disorder, leaning into complete chaos. Amid walls full of different plans and blueprints and graphs, rows and cases of potted plants and seedlings, and tables littered with documents and scale-models Aerith barely stood out as she was engrossed in drawing the picture of an orchard. Sephiroth stopped behind her and she turned to him, her features lighting up with a joyous smile.

"Sephiroth, look, this apple orchard would look perfect in the outskirts of Sector 6! It would, right?"

He smiled and nodded. He didn't know what magic made Aerith able to do it, but the Banora Whites would truly look good there.

xoxoxoxox

Epilogue: Blessing

Under the softly glowing crystal-like trees the surface of the water was exceptionally smooth. The air was mild, fragrant with the same silent, expectant tranquility as the early hours of dawn just before the sky turns light. Sephiroth watched the strange forest with unguarded awe. No bug or bird broke the silence but it felt as if the trees themselves were singing, somewhere at the edge of hearing. Aerith squeezed his hand; her eyes reflected the lights of the enchanted forest as she looked at him. They both shed their clothes and stepped into the lake. The cool water felt like silk on their skin as they took slow steps, barely rippling the surface. They stopped at the center of the lake in the waist-deep water, and faced each other. The moments bore a peculiar feeling of timelessness as they just stood and looked at each other; the light of the trees glistening in Aerith's eyes, on Sephiroth's hair. She dipped her hand in the molten, silver-like water and raised it to him to drink, and he followed her actions. The water ran down in glittering rivulets on their naked skin as they bathed each other, slowly, mutely, taking delight in each other, their eyes wide and intent, full of devotion and joy. Finally they stood facing each other, gaze still locked together, deep emeralds with luminescent light green, and he leant down and kissed her. She stepped closer to him, skin pressed to skin, warm and alive, embracing each other in that sacred place, in the presence of the planet, with the blessing of the Cetra ancestors.

AN: And that's it! Thank you everyone still there, without your kind reviews I would've never finished the updates (long as it took). And also many thanks to Bjanik for doing a wonderful job of betaing and making me ROFL with comments :D